This Month in Scaffolding January Round Up

 | 3 minute read

Each month, we bring you a comprehensive roundup of news and alerts from the scaffolding industry. We cover news, key innovations, emerging trends, safety incidents, and things you may have missed, ensuring you stay informed.

New York City's Persistent Scaffolding Challenge

In New York City, the Upper West Side continues to grapple with pervasive scaffolding. Over a nine-month period, 19 sheds were removed from West End Avenue, but five new ones have sprung up, leaving only four unobstructed blocks in a nearly 40-block stretch. Residents have likened this to a game of "whack-a-mole," as new structures appear almost as quickly as old ones are dismantled.

Council member Keith Powers is advocating for reforms to the city's 45-year-old scaffolding laws. His proposals include allowing the city to take over façade work when building owners delay repairs, extending inspection cycles for new buildings, and updating design requirements for scaffolding. A recent poll indicates strong public support for these changes, with 71% of registered Democrats favoring an overhaul of the laws and 77% believing that scaffolding negatively affects their daily lives.

Urgent Call to the UK Government to Address Scaffolding Skills Shortage

The UK’s National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) have raised concerns over a severe shortage of skilled scaffolders. They have urged the government to add scaffolding roles to the shortage occupation list to support the country's housing, infrastructure, and energy goals.

In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Brian Bell of the Migration Advisory Committee, the organisations warned that this skills gap could hinder the government’s economic strategy. NASC CEO Clive Dickin stressed that the shortage threatens key infrastructure and housing projects vital to the UK’s growth.

While NASC and CISRS are working to increase domestic training through initiatives like the Talent Portal and Bootcamp funding, they noted that these efforts will take time. In the short term, they called for skilled scaffolders to be sourced from abroad to support the UK’s infrastructure ambitions.

Other trades such as bricklayers and carpenters are already on the shortage occupation list, and the NASC and CISRS are seeking to add scaffolders, especially those with Level 2 and below qualifications, for five years. The industry currently has over 1,200 unfilled scaffolding positions, and the sector is projected to grow by 18%.

Safety Incidents Across the Globe

On the safety front, several notable incidents have occurred:

• Sydney, Australia: A partial building collapse in Burwood led to the evacuation of over 50 people. The incident occurred at a construction site on Railway Parade when the structure collapsed onto an excavator. Fire and Rescue NSW worked overnight to stabilize the scaffolding and remove the collapsed concrete. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
• Houston, USA: A worker was injured after scaffolding collapsed at a building in downtown Houston. The incident happened near Main Street and Rusk when a piece of concrete fell from the eighth floor onto a construction elevator, causing the scaffolding to collapse. The worker managed to exit the elevator and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in stable condition.
• Quincy, USA: Scaffolding at a construction site collapsed, but all workers were reported safe. The incident is under investigation, and no injuries have been reported
• Carlise, England: 

  A 36-metre temporary roof at The Sands Centre in Carlisle, England was torn apart by damaging high winds 24 January. Installed for structural repairs involving RAAC, the roof failed under extreme conditions, though no injuries were reported.

  JMAC Group, responsible for the roof and scaffolding, has pledged full transparency in the investigation and Ireland, prompting a reassessment of temporary roofing resilience.

Industry Expansion

In business news, Doka USA is set to open a new office and warehouse facility in Davie, Florida. The 42,866-square-foot space within the Davie Industrial Center will serve as Doka's South Florida regional office and include warehousing for formwork and scaffolding equipment. The facility is expected to be operational by early April.